Henin and Williams renew rivalry

Justine Henin and Serena Williams will renew their rivalry today when they meet in the quarter-finals of the French Open.

Justine Henin and Serena Williams will renew their rivalry today when they meet in the quarter-finals of the French Open.

Of the quartet of last-eight matches scheduled for the afternoon session, the Henin-Williams showdown stands out, in no small part due to what happened the last time the pair met at Roland Garros.

In their 2003 semi-final here, Williams - then the reigning champion - was reduced to tears by the hostile Philippe Chatrier crowd.

She was jeered by the crowd in the dying stages while her every mistake was cheered, as several line calls were disputed by both players.

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Earlier in the third set, the American had made a serve even though her Belgian opponent had raised her hand to suggest she was not ready.

Williams claimed she had been distracted and asked the umpire for the point to be replayed, a request that was rejected.

Henin won that match 6-2 4-6 7-5 and went on to claim her first French Open title.  Both players claim they have never discussed the episode since.

Henin, the current world number one, has won at Roland Garros a further two occasions - in 2005 and 2006 - and will start as favourite today, even though Williams beat Henin in Miami earlier this year.

Henin has a better head-to-head record on clay, having won three of their four clashes on the dirt.

Williams, the eighth seed, said: "I don't have anything to lose. She's playing great but I never count myself out."

Henin said: "It gives me confidence that I beat her on clay in the past.  It's the surface that I feel most comfortable on."

The match is second on Philippe Chatrier court, following the quarter-final between seventh-seed Ana Ivanovic, from Serbia, and Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, the third seed.

The opening clash sees in-form Jelena Jankovic, the fourth seed, takes on teenage prodigy Nicole Vaidisova, seeded six.

The second match will see Anna Chakvetadze, the ninth seed, attempt to oust fellow Russian Maria Sharapova, the second seed.

In the men's event, Rafael Nadal gave another clay court masterclass to progress to the quarter-finals after a 6-3 6-1 7-6 (7-5) victory over Lleyton Hewitt.

Nadal remains on course to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 - and just the second man in 93 years - to win three successive Roland Garros titles and meets compatriot and close friend Carlos Moya in the last eight.

Moya enjoyed a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-5 victory over veteran Jonas Bjorkman, with the 1998 champion securing victory in two hours 38 minutes.

Novak Djokovic, the sixth seed, outplayed Fernando Verdasco on Philippe Chatrier court, easing to a 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-1) victory in two hours 45 minutes.

He will next play Igor Andreev after the dangerous Russian enjoyed a surprise victory over 16th seed Marcos Baghdatis.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer, the top seed and world number one, will be favourite to book his place in the last four when he takes on Tommy Robredo in one of two quarter-finals today.

The other quarter-final will see Russian dark horse Nikolay Davydenko, the fourth seed, take on Argentina's Guillermo Canas, seeded 19.  PA